German smuggled rare animals in his underpants, court told

Wellington - A German who admitted trading in endangered wildlife tried to smuggle 44 rare animals out of New Zealand in his underpants, a court was told, according to news reports on Tuesday. Hans Kurt Kubus, 58, from Bad Munstereifel, Limbach,pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court Monday to five charges of trading in exploited species and two of hunting absolutely protected wildlife.

Kubus had 24 geckos from five species and 20 skinks of two species hidden in a package in his underwear when he was searched while trying to board a flight at Christchurch airport on Sunday, Department of Conservation prosecutor Mike Bodie told the court.

"The package contained eight separate compartments separating various gecko and skink species," he said. "The defendant had hand-sewn the eight compartments together to form a single compact concealed package. The defendant's luggage also contained a single gecko in a rolled up sock.

"When interviewed, the defendant admitted trading geckos and taking geckos and skinks from the wild without any permit or authority and was subsequently arrested."

Bodie said the street value of each gecko on the black market in Europe was at least 1,000 euros (1,500 dollars), while the value of the skinks was unknown because it was the first time trading in the small lizards had been identified.

"It was also determined that 14 out of 15 adult female geckos and 12 out of 14 female skinks in the defendant's possession were pregnant. Each pregnant animal is likely to give birth to multiple live young in the coming weeks."

Kubus was remanded on bail for sentence on January 25.